Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has challenged African women golfers to embrace sportsmanship, integrity and continental unity as she officially declared the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) open at the IBB International Golf and Country Club, Abuja.

Speaking at Tuesday’s ceremonial opening, Tinubu said the championship’s theme, “Uniting Africa Through the Greens”, reflected the power of sport to transcend national boundaries, cultural differences and languages while promoting friendship, sisterhood and a shared African identity.

Addressing the participating golfers, the First Lady said: “To our remarkable female golfers, you are an inspiration to women everywhere. Play with passion, compete with integrity and let sportsmanship guide every stroke.”

Tinubu, who is the Grand Patron of AACT 2026, welcomed the participating delegations and encouraged them to explore Nigeria’s cultural attractions, landmarks and hospitality during their stay. She also commended the President of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN) and Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Lami Onayi Ahmed, alongside the association’s executive council and organising team, for bringing the continental championship to Abuja.

A major highlight of her address was the Girls in Golf Legacy Project, through which LGAN plans to introduce 300 young girls to the sport across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones. Describing the initiative as an important investment in the future of women’s golf, Tinubu said it would create opportunities for girls to discover their potential and develop into the next generation of female golfers.

“As a mother and advocate for women and girls, I commend the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria for the Girls in Golf Legacy Project, which will introduce 300 young girls to golf across the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and open new opportunities for the next generation,” she said.

Earlier, LGAN President and LOC Chairman, Dr Lami Onayi Ahmed, described Nigeria’s hosting of the championship for the third time as both an honour and a responsibility, stressing that the competition offered an important platform for strengthening relationships among African countries through sport.

Ahmed noted that although participating nations would compete under different flags, the championship represented a common African identity that extended beyond nationality, language and cultural differences. “Though we compete under different flags, we remain united as one African family,” she said.

She also described the Girls in Golf initiative as a central part of LGAN’s long-term development strategy, explaining that the project would expose 300 girls across the six geopolitical zones to golf while introducing them to the values of discipline, commitment and excellence associated with the sport.

According to Ahmed, the significance of the championship would extend beyond the eventual winners, with the friendships established, relationships strengthened and young girls inspired representing a lasting legacy for African women’s golf. “The trophies will find their winners, but the friendships we build, the unity we strengthen and the young girls we inspire will remain our greatest victory,” she said.

The 2026 AACT has brought together female golfers from 20 African countries for the continental team championship at the IBB International Golf and Country Club. The competition, scheduled for November 4–6, is part of a broader programme running from November 2–7, with Nigeria hosting the prestigious event for the third time.